Do Peach Rings Contain Pork Gelatin? Getting to the Bottom of This Fruity Confectionery

Peach rings—those round, peach-flavored gummy candies—are a nostalgic treat that many of us remember fondly from childhood. But as adults, some of us have questions about what exactly goes into making these sugary, chewy delights Specifically, many people wonder do peach rings contain pork gelatin?

As lovers of peach rings know, the gummy texture comes from gelatin Gelatin is a protein derived from collagen, an animal protein found in skin, bones, and connective tissue The source of the collagen determines the source of the gelatin. The most common sources are pork and cattle.

A Brief History of Gelatin in Candy

The use of gelatin in confectionery items dates back to the early 1800s. At the time, gelatin was made solely from pork and cattle byproducts. This remained the standard until concerns arose in the mid-20th century over the possible spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as “mad cow disease,” through beef-sourced gelatin.

In response, some candy manufacturers switched to using exclusively pork-derived gelatin in products like peach rings. The practice continues today, with pork remaining a very common source of gelatin despite assurances of safety from beef gelatin suppliers.

Examining the Ingredients of Peach Rings

To get a definitive answer on whether peach rings contain pork gelatin, we need to closely examine ingredient lists.

Crazy Candies, a popular New Zealand candy shop, lists the ingredients of their peach rings as:

• Glucose syrup
• Sugar
• Starch
• Beef gelatin (halal)
• Citric acid
• Tartaric acid
• Natural peach flavor
• Colors (E102, E104, E110, E129)

The key item is the beef gelatin (halal). This tells us that these particular peach rings use bovine-derived gelatin, not porcine. The halal certification also makes sure that the gelatin comes from cows that were killed according to Islamic rules about food.

Analyzing the ingredient list of a different brand of peach rings reveals:

• Sugar
• Glucose syrup
• Pork gelatin
• Citric acid
• Natural peach flavor
• Colors (E102, E129)

The fact that “pork gelatin” is listed here makes it clear that this product contains gelatin from pigs.

Why Do Some Brands Use Pork Gelatin?

The use of pork gelatin versus beef gelatin (or other sources) comes down to a few key factors for candy manufacturers:

• Cost – Pork gelatin is typically cheaper than beef gelatin, allowing companies to reduce production expenses.

• Availability – Pork-derived gelatin is readily available in large quantities from major gelatin suppliers.

• Consistency – Many candy brands have used pork gelatin for decades and prefer not to reformulate by switching gelatin sources.

• Texture – Some confectioners maintain that pork gelatin provides a more desirable texture versus beef in certain candies.

Finding Peach Rings Without Pork Gelatin

For those wishing to avoid pork for religious, dietary, or ethical reasons, the good news is there are peach ring options out there made without pork gelatin:

• Kosher brands – Look for kosher certification, which requires all animal-derived ingredients to come from kosher slaughtered animals (pork is not kosher).

• Halal brands – Halal certification similarly ensures no pork products are used.

• Vegetarian/vegan brands – These will be made with vegan gelling agents like pectin or starch instead of animal gelatin.

• Beef gelatin – As seen with the Crazy Candies example above, some brands use cattle-derived gelatin.

No matter your reason for wanting to know, examining ingredient lists provides the definitive answer on whether a brand of peach rings contains pork gelatin or not. And with pure vegan options alongside brands using beef gelatin or kosher/halal certification, peach ring lovers can enjoy this fruity, gummy candy regardless of diet or beliefs.